Suspension could cost A-Rod $30 million

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NEW YORK CITY, NY - Major League Baseball (MLB) has announced it is suspending Yankees Superstar Alex Rodriguez through the 2014 season for violating its drug policy.

A dozen other players agreed to doping suspensions as well, including a member of the Seattle Mariners organization.

Adriana Diaz reports from MLB headquarters in New York City.

“Alex Rodriguez waved to the cameras as he arrived at Chicago’s US Cellular Field,” said Diaz. “He’ll suit up for the Yankees for the first time this year to face the White Sox. But he’s fighting a bigger battle now that Major League Baseball has suspended him for 211 games for doping.

MLB says Rodriguez’s discipline is based on his use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including testosterone and human growth hormone, over the course of multiple years.

Baseball’s highest paid of player tops the list of those accused of using performance-enhancing drugs from a Florida clinic called Biogenesis.

Nelson Cruz of the Texas Rangers and Jhonny Peralta of the Detroit Tigers are among 12 players who agreed to 50 game suspensions. That will get them back on the field in time for the playoffs.

The League gave A-Rod a tougher penalty saying he got in the way of investigators. Major League Baseball will allow the Yankees third baseman to play while he appeals. The case is expected to go before an arbitrator in the next few weeks.

The Players Association said that the arbitrator will not be making any decisions until November, at the earliest, which means that A-Rod could play the entire rest of the season and the post-season, should the Yankee’s make it that far.

In a statement Rodriguez said, ‘I am disappointed with the penalty and intend to appeal and fight this through the process. I am eager to get back on the field and be with my teammates in Chicago tonight.’

If A-Rod’s suspension holds, he’ll lose about $30 million from his contract with the Yankees. He’ll still have about $60 million remaining.”

Rodriguez admitted to using banned substances when he played for the Texas Rangers but he denies using them since.

Monday in his first game back with the Yankees this season, Rodriguez went one-for-four with a single and was boo’d by the entire Chicago crowd during every time he was at bat.

The only player affected in the Seattle Mariners organization is Jesus Montero, who is currently playing for the Mariners minor league affiliate, The Tacoma Rainiers. Montero is not expected to appeal his 50-game suspension.